'Frustrating': Outrage after no charges filed against ex-Bills punter Matt Araiza in 2021 gang rape of teen
Warning: This article contains information about child sexual assault that could be triggering to some readers. Discretion is advised.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: Former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza will not face criminal charges despite being accused of being a part of a gang rape of a minor in 2021. The accusations first surfaced in August 2022 when a teenager alleged that she was raped by Araiza and his other two teammates at an off-campus Halloween party on October 16, 2021. The plaintiff, now 18, has been identified in the complaint as 'Jane Doe' because she was underage at the time.
The San Diego County District Attorney's Office announced its decision Wednesday, December 7, 2022, stating that "prosecutors determined it is clear the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges," according to Daily Mail. "There is no path to a potential criminal conviction," read the DA's statement. Dan Gilleon, who is representing the plaintiff, accused the DA's office of dismissing the claims as she was intoxicated at the time of the incident.